Piano-flange-attaching bar.



No. 844,238. I PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907.

' P. G. BILLINGS.

PIANO FLANGE ATTACHING BAR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906.

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FREDERTOK G. BILLINGS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PlANO-FLANGE-ATTACHlNG BAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed September 24, 1906. Serial No. 335.989.

To (ti/Z whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. B1L- LINGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Piano-Flange-Attaching Bars, of which thefollowing is a specification containing a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to a piano-flange-attaching bar; and the particularobject of my invention is to provide a continuous metal bar which isattached to the rail of a pianoaction and to which the brass flangeswhich pivotally support the hammer-butts are rel movably and adjustablypositioned.

A further object of my invention is to so construct an attaching bar asthat the flanges can all be properly spaced and which flanges can bequickly removed from the bar in order to remove any one of the hammerswithout necessitating the removal of the en tire action or the entirerail on which said hammers are supported.

A further object of my invention is to so construct a bar as that thereare no projecting ears or tongues, which latter very often break when abutt is being attached thereto, thus necessitating the removal andreplacing of the entire bar.

T o the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully set forth, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of aportion of an attaching-bar of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is across-section of the main rail of a piano-action and showing my improvedbar secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of therail and showing a portion of the attaching-bar therei on. Fig. 4 is across-section of the attaching-bar and illustrating the manner in whichone of the flanges can be removed therefrom without entirely removingthe attachingsciew. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a modifled form of therail to which my improved bar is secured.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates theordinary wood rail of a piano-action, and 2 the attachingbar, which ispreferably constructed of a con tinuous piece of metal, such as brass,and

\ which is located on the upper portion and front side of the rail 1.Formed in the front l-face of the bar 2 is a longitu(finally-extending lgroove 3, and formed through said bar below 1 this groove is a row ofapertures 4, through i which pass screws 5, which enter the rail 1, lthereby rigidly fixing the bar in position l upon the rail. Formedthrough the upper i portion of the bar 2 is a series of apertures 5 whch are arranged at equal distances apart and in which are seated theends of the screws 6 which secure the brass flanges 7 to g the bar.These apertures are formed at equal distances apart in order that thehaml mers will be properly spaced, and the inner plates of the flanges 7are provided with inwardly-projecting ears 8 at their lower ends, lwhich enter the groove 3 when the flanges l are secured to the bar, andthus maintain said flanges in a perfect upright position.

\Vhen it is desired to remove one of the hammers of the piano-action,the screw 6 that secures the corresponding flange 7 is partiallywithdrawn from the bar 2, as shown in Fig. 1-, and when so positionedthe flange is easily and quickly removed from said bar.

The screws 6 are all seated in the body of the bar 2, and thereforerigidly hold all of the flanges, and any one of said screws can beeasily and quickly loosened to remove any one hammer without disturbingany of the remaining hammers or flanges and without having to remove theentire action and rail.

The position of the apertures 5 correctly determines the spacing of thehammers, and it is practically impossible to break the bar when fixing aflange thereto, as there are no projecting parts, and said bar is verystrong and rigid.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of the rail in which a groove 9is formed in said rail for the reception of the rear ends of the screws6 when tightened on the bar 2.

I claim 1 1. The combination with the rail of a pianol action, and thehammer-butt flanges, of a 1 continuous metallic bar secured to the rail1, and provided with a longitudinally-extending groove in its frontface, intermediate its top and bottom edges; for the reception of thelower ends of the flanges; substantially as described.

2. The combination with the rail of a pianoaction and the hammer-buttflanges, the

l 1 lower ends of which flanges are bent laterally, l

of a continuous metallic bar located on said rail in the front face ofwhich bar is formed a continuous groove for the reception of thelaterally-bent ends of the flanges, which bar is provided with aperturesto receive the screws which fasten said bar to the rail, and said barbeing also provided with apertures above the continuous groove for thereception of the screws which attach the ha1nmer-butt flanges;substantially as described.

3. A flange-attaching bar for piano-actions, comprising a continuousmetallic bar having flat front and rear faces and provided with alongitudinally-extending groove in its front face between the top andbottom edges, and which bar is provided with apertures above and belowthe groove for receiving attachingscrews; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDK. G. BILLINGS.

Witnesses:

J. E. DEAKIN, EARL R. BILLINGS.

